There are 15 games this week, with the Arizona Cardinals and Washington Commanders not in action. Sic of those contests are divisional match-ups, and all but one is a rematch from earlier this season. One of those rematches is featured in the enclosed list.
So, would it be a major shock if any of the following three things should occur?
3. Improving Bears avenge Week 11 loss to Lions
It was a long time coming for head coach Matt Eberflus. The last time the Chicago Bears took the field was in Week 12. It was a Monday night game at Minnesota and the team’s current sideline leader owned a career 0-9 mark vs. NFC North rival. The Bears were looking to avoid their second loss of the season to the Vikings.
Chicago settled for four field goals and still managed a 12-10 victory. When they faced the Lions in Detroit three weeks ago, quarterback Justin Fields ran for 104 yards and Eberflus’ club forced four turnovers, including three interceptions of Jared Goff.
After forcing only nine turnovers in their first 20 games, Chicago has come up with eight takeaways in their last two outings. The well-rested Bears should take advantage of a Lions’ defense that has hit the skids as of late. Detroit has given up a total of 173 points in their last six games, an average of 28.8 points per game.
It figures to be another high-scoring clash for Dan Campbell’s club, who have played in four straight games in which the total points were 79, 57, 51 and 61 points, respectively.
2. There will be a three-way tie atop the AFC South
A season ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars overcame a 4-8 start and won the AFC South for the first time since 2017. Their 9-8 finish was also the club’s best mark since that season, one that ended with an appearance in the AFC Championship Game.
What made the showing by Doug Pederson’s club even more impressive was the fact that the Jaguars had finished dead last in their division four straight years from 2018-2021. A year ago, it was the Houston Texans that resided in the divisional basement with a 3-13-1 mark.
Now 12 games into 2023, the club has more than doubled that victory total. DeMeco Ryans’ club, as well as the equally-surprising Indianapolis Colts, are sitting with 7-5 records. The latter suffered through a 4-11-1 showing in 2022, but are currently riding a four-game winning streak.
This Week, all four AFC South teams, including the 4-8 Titans, are on the road. Tennessee is at Miami on Monday night. On Sunday, the first-place Jaguars (with or without starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence) visit Cleveland, the Colts are at Cincinnati and the Texans face the Jets at MetLife Stadium. Each game kicks off at 1:00 pm ET. Later that afternoon, don’t be shocked if all three teams own identical 8-5 records.
1. Bills sack Patrick Mahomes six times, but lose in overtime
It has been one of the signature match-ups on the schedule in recent years. Including a pair of high-scoring playoff encounters, the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs will meet for the sixth time in four seasons. Sunday’s clash will once again be at Arrowhead Stadium, the fifth consecutive time these teams will meet at Kansas City.
Andy Reid’s club has prevailed in three of the five encounters, including both postseason affairs. However, it’s the Bills that have left Kansas City each of the past two seasons with victories, including a 24-20 triumph a year ago in Week 6.
Both of these teams have had their ups and downs in 2023. Each has lost at least one more game than it did all of last season. The Bills are 6-6 after a 3-1 start. The Chiefs are 2-3 in their last five outings following a six-game winning streak.
One thing the teams also have in common is the fact that quarterbacks Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes have not been sacked a lot. Buffalo (15) and Kansas City (17) rank 1-2, respectively, in QB traps allowed this season.
That changes a bit on Sunday. Mahomes was dropped three times on Sunday night at Green Bay. This week, the Bills will get to him twice as often. However, it will still add up to a third overtime loss for Sean McDermott’s club this season as Buffalo falls further down the playoff standings.